On 20 November 2025, partners, sponsors, and members of the mountaineering community gathered in the village of Belle to celebrate the successful completion of the NaturKosovo Initiative—a project aimed at strengthening sustainable tourism in Kosovo’s section of the Dinaric Alps.
Backed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Italian Embassy in Kosovo, NaturKosovo connected local mountain trails with the international Via Dinarica network, which connect Slovenia and Kosovo. With a budget of €1.8 million, the project restored and marked trails, supported tourism businesses in Peja, Deçan, and Junik, and improved search and rescue capacity.
The Utalaya Foundation and NaturKosovo
The Utalaya Foundation played a central part in the initiative by leading development of the Via Dinarica Kosovo website, publishing a comprehensive guidebook, and producing both print and online resources. These materials include detailed maps, trail descriptions, photos, accommodation information, and contacts for local guides and tour operators—resources essential for helping travelers explore Kosovo’s mountains independently or with guided tours. Utalaya founder Uta Ibrahimi emphasized the project’s significance:
“Via Dinarica has existed for many years, but this is the first project that truly completes the trail—not just through marking the paths, but by promoting it internationally. We launched a website, a guidebook, and maps so that all information is now available for everyone to explore the trail. The project also supported local areas and guesthouses through small grants to build their capacities.”
Utalaya’s sister organization, Butterfly Outdoor Adventure, is actively working to ensure the long-term impact of NaturKosovo by introducing new 5-day and 9-day Via Dinarica hiking packages and promoting Kosovo internationally as a world-class outdoor destination. These tours are bringing visitors and resources to local businesses in Kosovo’s mountain communities.
Strengthening Mountain Safety and Professional Capacity
A significant achievement of NaturKosovo is the expansion of the Kosovo Mountaineering Association and its integration into the Union of Mountaineering Associations. According to Arianit Nikçi, President of the Kosovo Federation of Mountaineering and Sport Climbing, the training and equipment provided through the project have had “extraordinary benefits.”
“Our teams are now better trained, more technically prepared, and capable of responding to emergencies with professionalism. Kosovo’s search and rescue service is now a full member of the International Mountain Rescue Association—one of the most important results of this project.”
Support from International and Local Leaders
Italian Ambassador to Kosovo Maurizio Antonini highlighted Kosovo’s growing potential:
“The future of Kosovo is here—in its mountains, classrooms, innovation centers, and start-ups. Italy will continue supporting projects that empower institutions and create opportunities. A generation can prosper in a European Kosovo without needing to leave this country.”
Acting Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade Rozeta Hajdari noted that Kosovo is gaining visibility in international markets, with visitor numbers doubling since 2019 and continuing to rise.
Local leaders—including the mayors of Peja and Junik—signed a memorandum of cooperation to ensure long-term maintenance of the Via Dinarica trail. Both pledged to keep the trail a top priority for their municipalities.
The NaturKosovo project was implemented by Italian and Kosovar organizations—including Volontari nel Mondo RTM, CELIM, the Utalaya Foundation, the Italian Alpine Club, the Italian National Rescue Corps, the Alpine Speleology Service, and the Italian Association for Responsible Tourism—all contributing expertise in sustainability, tourism development, and mountain safety.